Book

The Saint of Beersheba

State University of New York PressAlbany • Published In 1990 • Pages: viii, 148

By: Weingrod, Alex.

Abstract
This document presents a brief biographical sketch of Rabbi Chayim Chouri, a new Jewish ZADDIK ('saint' or holy man), possessing special spiritual powers, and the yearly pilgrimage (HILLULA) to his grave in the municipal cemetery of the city of Beersheba in Israel's southern Negev region. Weingrod describes in detail the events taking place at the gravesite, and compares this pilgrimage to other similar celebrations in recent years that have taken place in Israel by Jews from Kurdistan, Iran, Ethiopia, Yemen, and Morocco (ca. 1960s-1980s). The author notes that the pilgrims who took part in the observances at the gravesite of the Rabbi Chayim Chouri were primarily immigrant Tunisians and Moroccans (the rabbi himself was of Tunisian origin).
Subjects
Life history materials
External migration
Cultural identity and pride
Ethnic stratification
Cult of the dead
Sacred objects and places
Ritual
Prophets and ascetics
Priesthood
Congregations
culture
Israelis
HRAF PubDate
2005
Region
Middle East
Sub Region
Middle East
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2004
Field Date
1978-1980s
Coverage Date
ca.1957-1980s
Coverage Place
Beersheba, southern Negev region, Israel
Notes
by Alex Weingrod ; [photography by Daniel Weingrod]
Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-122) and index
LCCN
89004047
LCSH
Israelis